John 16:4-7 4But I have said these things to you, in order that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you. These things I did not say to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to the one who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7But I tell you the truth: it is advantageous for you that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
A time would come soon when the disciples would be left alone without Jesus. That is when the real test of faith would come. How would they respond when their Lord, Master, and King was no longer with them, and the pressure and animosity of the Jews attempted to crush them in defeat? Their hour refers to the coming time when the Jewish authorities and others would challenge them, question them, and imprison them. The danger would increase to the point of killing them, as with the case of Stephen in Acts 7. When the persecution came, the disciples would remember. through the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ words spoken that night and throughout his ministry. Jesus offered protection to his disciples while he was physically present with them. He was sure of the Father’s will, and this will was that none of his disciples would suffer while he was with them. His three years with them was a time of teaching, training, and inspiring them to follow in his footsteps.
Verse 5 begins the shift from “then” to “now.” From that point on, things would be different. It was time for the disciples to fly on their own, like baby birds being pushed out of the nest. The mission of God’s kingdom must start with their obedient faith. They did not need to ask a second time about Jesus’ destination. He had answered Peter’s question from 13:36 and Thomas’ question of 14:5. He had told them clearly that he was returning to the Father. They just did not realize experientially yet what this would require of them that night and the next day as they saw Jesus arrested, beaten, and crucified. Their world would be turned upside down. They had every reason to be full of fear and sorrow. Even knowing what they did from what Jesus said could not take away their growing sorrow. Sorrow (lupē) or grief is repeated later in verses 20, 21, and 22, implying how it was such a problem for the disciples.
Verse 7 changes course and gives one of the reasons for the upcoming events. The verse gives a sequence in the form of a conditional idea. Unless Jesus went away, the Holy Spirit would not come in the special way that would fulfill God’s plan for the new covenant. It was great to have Jesus with them, but they would be missing out on God’s promises for inner transformation and outward power to witness. Their faith would be limited unless they learned to trust, and this trust could come only after Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation. Their sins could be forgiven through the cross, but their hearts needed changed through Pentecost. The phrase but if I go could refer to the first step of going to the cross and the second step of going to the Father. One was necessary for the other.
We live on the other side of the cross where this promise lies. We can look back on the cross and resurrection and experience their power through the One who comes alongside us and works in us to transform us into the type of persons Jesus has talked about in this last supper.
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